Substituted N-phenylglutarimides and N-phenylglutaramides, their preparation and use

ABSTRACT

Substituted N-phenylglutarimides I ##STR1## X 1 , X 2  =O, S; R 1  =halogen, NO 2 , CN, CF 3  ; R 2  =H, halogen; 
     R 3 , R 4 , R 5  =H, halogen, CN, alkyl, cyctoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkyl-thio, cyanoalkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl or benzyl, 
     or 2 substituents of a C atom or 2 substituents of adjacent C atoms of the glutarimide ring are bonded to one another via a chain which may be substituted; 
     A=CHR 6  --CHR 7  --CO--B or CR 6  ═CR 8  --CO--B; 
     R 6  =H, C 1  -C 6  -alkyl or C 1  -C 6  -haloalkyl; 
     R 7  =halogen, haloalkyl, OH, alkoxy or alkylcarbonyloxy; 
     R 8  =H, CN, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl or 
     B=H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, dialkoxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or amino, the last three radicals may be substituted, unsubstituted or functionalized; 
     and plant-tolerable salts of I; 
     their preparation and use as herbicides and desiccating/defoliating agents, and precursors for the preparation of the N-phenylglutarimides I.

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP93/02879, filed Oct. 19, 1993.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to novel substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I ##STR2## where the variables have the following meanings: X¹, X²

are oxygen or sulfur;

R¹

is halogen, nitro, cyano or trifluoromethyl;

R²

is hydrogen or halogen;

R³, R⁴, R⁵

independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₂ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkoxy, C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkylthio, C₁ -C₆ -cyanoalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl or benzyl, where the phenyl group or the phenyl ring of the benzyl group may be substituted by C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, halogen, cyano, nitro or trifluoromethyl,

or two substituents of a carbon atom of the glutarimide ring are bonded to one another via a 2- to 5-membered chain and thus form a spiro ring, which, if desired, can carry one or two halogen atoms, the spiro ring in addition to the C atoms also being able to contain one or two non-adjacent ring members selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S--, --NH--, and --N(C₁ -C₄ -alkyl)--,

or two substituents of two adjacent carbon atoms of the glutarimide ring are bonded to one another via a 1- to 5-membered chain and thus form a fused ring, which, if desired, can carry one or two halogen atoms, the fused ring in addition to the C atoms also being able to contain one or two non-adjacent ring members selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S--, --NH-- and --N(C₁ -C₄ -alkyl)--;

A

is CHR⁶ --CHR⁷ --CO--B or CR⁶ ═CR⁸ --CO--B, where

R⁶ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl;

R⁷ is halogen, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyloxy, and

R⁸ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl or C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyloxy

and where

B has one of the following meanings:

(a) is hydrogen,

(b) is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -dialkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl;

(c) is OR⁹, SR⁹, where R⁹ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, halo-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -cyanoalkyl, C₃ -C₆ -haloalkenyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkylimino or C₁ -C₆ -alkyloximino-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl radicals, benzyl or benzyl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl radicals;

(d) is NR¹⁰ R¹¹, where R¹⁰ and R¹¹ independently of one another have the following meanings:

hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₃ -C₆ -cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted by one to three C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl radicals, or R¹⁰ and R¹¹, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, are a saturated or unsaturated 4- to 7- membered heterocycle having one or two further identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;

and to the agriculturally utilizable salts of the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I.

In particular, the invention relates to substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I where R³ is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or -haloalkyl and R⁴, R⁵ are hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl and to glutarimides of the formula I' ##STR3## where R⁴ is C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, R³ and R⁵ are hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl and A, X¹ and X² are as defined above.

Additionally, the invention relates to herbicidal and desiccant and/or defoliant compositions which contain these compounds as active substances.

A further aspect of the invention relates to N-phenylglutaramides of the general formula II ##STR4## in which the variables X¹, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and A have the same meaning as given above and R¹² is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or benzyl.

The N-phenylglutaramides II are used as intermediates for preparing the substituted N-phenyl-glutarimides I, but can also be used as herbicides, bioregulators and agents for the abscission and/or defoliation of plant organs.

The Laid-Open Applications EP-A 391 847, EP-A 415 641, EP-A 415 642 and EP-A 454 444 disclose both herbicidally active, specifically substituted N-phenylglutarimides and specifically substituted N-phenylglutaramides. The Laid-Open Application WO 87/07 602 generally mentions N-phenyl-substituted glutarimides.

The efficiency and the selectivity of these known herbicides with respect to harmful plants is, however, only of limited satisfactoriness, so the invention is based on the object of novel herbicidally active compounds with which harmful plants can be combated better and more specifically than previously and which are well tolerated by the crop plants.

Accordingly, the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I and the N-phenylglutaramides II defined at the beginning have been found.

In addition, agents have been found which contain these substances and have a good herbicidal action.

Additionally, it has been found that the compounds I and II according to the invention are suitable as defoliating and desiccating agents, for example in cotton, potato, rape, sunflowers, soybeans or field beans.

The meanings mentioned for the substituents R¹ to R⁵ are collective terms for individual lists of the individual group members. All alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and haloalkyl moieties can be straight-chain or branched. The haloalkyl and haloalkoxy radicals can carry identical or different halogen atoms.

The substituents have the following specific meanings, for example:

X¹, X²

are oxygen or sulfur, preferably X¹ and X² are both oxygen or X¹ is sulfur and X² is oxygen;

R¹

is nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl or halogen, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, preferably halogen, in particular chlorine;

R²

is hydrogen or halogen such as given for R¹, preferably hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine;

R³ , R⁴ , R⁵ independently of one another

are hydrogen, halogen as mentioned for R¹, cyano,

C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl: methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl,

C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl: cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl,

C₂ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₂ -C₆ -alkynyl, in particular C₂ -C₄ -alkenyl or -alkynyl: eg. vinyl, allyl, ethynyl, propargyl,

C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl: chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl and 3-chloropropyl, preferably trifluoromethyl,

C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy and -haloalkoxy, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy and C₁ -C₄ -haloalkoxy: eg. methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, n-butoxy, 1-methylpropoxy, 2-methylpropoxy, 1,1-dimethylethoxy, n-pentoxy, 1-methylbutoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, 3-methylbutoxy, chloromethoxy, dichloromethoxy, trichloromethoxy, fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, chlorofluoromethoxy, dichlorofluoromethyloxy, chlorodifluoromethyloxy, 1-fluoroethyloxy, 2-fluoroethyloxy, 2,2-difluoroethyloxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyloxy, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyloxy, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyloxy, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyloxy, 2,2,2-trichloroethyloxy and pentafluoroethyloxy, preferably C₁ -C₂ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₂ -haloalkoxy such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy or methoxy,

C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio and C₁ -C₄ -haloalkylthio: eg. methylthio, ethylthio, n-propylthio, 1-methylethylthio, n-butylthio, 1-methylpropylthio, 2-methylpropylthio, 1,1-dimethylethylthio, chloromethylthio, dichloromethylthio, trifluoromethylthio, fluoromethylthio, difluoromethylthio, trifluoromethylthio, 2,2,2-trifluoroethylthio and pentafluoroethylthio,

C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₄ -cyanoalkyl: eg. cyanomethyl, 1-cyanoeth-1-yl and 2-cyanoeth-1-yl,

C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxycarbonyl, where the radicals mentioned above for C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy are also preferred in the combination alkoxycarbonyl: particularly preferably methoxy- and ethoxycarbonyl,

phenyl or benzyl, where the aromatic nucleus can in each case be substituted by one or more radicals, in particular 1 to 3 radicals, selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, in particular methyl, ethyl, ethoxy or methoxy, halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, cyano, nitro and trifluoromethyl; for example phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 2-fluorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, benzyl or 2,4-dichlorobenzyl.

Two geminally bonded radicals (R³ +R⁴ or R⁴ +R⁵) can also form a 2- to 5-membered chain, (eg. an ethylene, propylene, butylene or pentylene chain), with one another and thus form a spiro-fused ring with one another, which can be unsubstituted or in turn can carry 1 or 2 halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine;

two vicinally bonded radicals (R³ +R⁴ or R⁴ +R⁵) can also form a 1- to 5-membered chain (eg. a methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene or pentylene chain), with one another and thus form, together with the C atoms to which they are bonded, a fused 3- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring, which can be unsubstituted or in turn can carry 1 or 2 halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine;

both the spiro ring and the fused ring, in addition to the C atoms as ring members, can also contain one or two non-adjacent ring members, to be specific --O--, --S--, --NH-- or --N(C₁ -C₄ -alkyl)-- in each case. ##STR5## where R⁶ in each case is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, in particular methyl and ethyl, C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ - and C₂ -haloalkyl such as chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, tri-chloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl and 3-chloropropyl, preferably trifluoromethyl and R⁷ is halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, in particular chlorine and bromine, is C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl as mentioned above for R⁶, in particular trifluoromethyl and pentafluoromethyl, is hydroxyl, is C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyloxy, where in both groups the alkyl radicals preferably have 1 to 4 C atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, ie. for example methoxy, ethoxy, methoxycarbonyl and ethoxycarbonyl.

R⁸ is preferably hydrogen, cyano, hydroxyl, halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, in particular chlorine or bromine, C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, such as chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl and 3-chloropropyl, particularly preferably trifluoromethyl or alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl or alkylcarbonyloxy, where the alkyl units in the four last-mentioned groups have 1 to 6, preferably 1 to 4, C atoms such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, ie. for example methoxy, ethoxy, methylcarbonyl, ethylcarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, methylcarbonyloxy or ethylcarbonyloxy.

The radical B is very broadly variable and is

(a) hydrogen;

(b) C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl; C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, such as allyl or propargyl; C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₂ -haloalkyl such as trifluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl or 2,2,2-trichloroethyl; C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, in particular C₃ -C₆ -cycloalkyl such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl; C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy- or -dialkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy- or -dialkoxy-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl such as methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, dimethoxymethyl, diethoxymethyl or i-propoxymethyl; C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, eg. methylthiomethyl or ethylthiomethyl,

(c) OR⁹, SR⁹, where R⁹ has the following meanings: hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl as mentioned above for (b), C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl and -alkynyl, eg. allyl or propargyl; C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, eg. cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl such as 2,2,2-trifluoromethyl or 2,2,2-trichloroethyl; C₁ -C₆ -, in particular C₁ -C₄ -cyanoalkyl, eg. cyanomethyl, 2-cyanoethyl or 1-cyanoethyl; C₃ -C₆ -haloalkenyl, in particular C₃ - and C₄ -fluoro- or chloroalkenyl, eg. 3-chloroallyl or 2,3-dichloroallyl; C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxycarbonyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl such as methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl, methoxycarbonylethyl or ethoxycarbonylethyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy- or C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, eg. methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethyl or ethoxyethyl and the corresponding alkylthioalkyl radicals; C₁ -C₆ -alkylimino, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkylimino, eg. ethylimino or 2-propylimino; C₁ -C₆ -alkyloximino-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyloximino-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, eg. 2-propyloximinoethyl or 2-propyloximinopropyl;

phenyl or phenyl which is substituted by one or more radicals, in particular one to three radicals, selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular methyl, ethyl, propyl; C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, eg. allyl, halogen, eg. fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, cyano, nitro; C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, eg. methoxy or ethoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxycarbonyl, eg. methoxycarbonyl, and benzyl or benzyl which is substituted on the phenyl group as defined above;

(d) NR¹⁰ R¹¹, where R¹⁰ and R¹¹ have the following meanings:

hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-buryl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, sec-butyl; C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl or C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, eg. allyl, propargyl; C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -haloalkyl, where halogen is preferably fluorine, chlorine or bromine, eg. 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl; C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkylcarbonyl or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, methylcarbonyl or ethylcarbonyl; C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₄ -alkyl, eg. methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, n-propoxymethyl, tert-butoxymethyl, 1-methoxyethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxypropyl; phenyl, phenyl substituted by 1 to 3 radicals selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, in particular methyl, ethyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, eg. alkyl; halogen such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or -alkoxycarbonyl, in particular C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₄ -alkoxycarbonyl, eg. methoxy or ethoxy, methoxycarbonyl or ethoxycarbonyl;

R¹⁰ and R¹¹ can also form, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, a saturated or unsaturated 4- to 7-membered heterocycle, in particular 6-membered heterocycle, in which a ring member is --NH--, --S-- or --O--; for example R¹⁰ and R¹¹ together form a group --CH₂ --CH₂ --O--CH₂ --CH₂, CH₂ --CH₂ --S-- CH₂ --CH₂, CH₂ --CH₂ --O--CH═CH--.

With respect to the use of the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I and the N-phenylglutaramide derivatives II according to the invention as herbicidally active compounds and compounds having defoliant/desiccant activity, the following meanings of the variable B are very particularly preferred:

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     No.  B            No.  B                                                       __________________________________________________________________________     B.01 --H          B.39 --O--(CH.sub.3 -phenyl)                                 B.02 --OH         B.40 --O--(2,4-Cl.sub.2 -phenyl)                             B.03 --OCH.sub.3  B.41 --O--(2,4-(CH.sub.3).sub.2 -phenyl-)                    B.04 --OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          B.42 --O--CH.sub.2 CN                                        B.05 --O-n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                       B.43 --O--CH.sub.2 CH═CCl.sub.2                          B.06 --O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                       B.44 --O--CH.sub.2 CH═CHCl                               B.07 --O-n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                       B.45 --O--CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3                                 B.08 --O-i-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                       B.46 --O--CH.sub.2 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                          B.09 --O-s-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                       B.47 --O--C.sub.2 H.sub.4 OCH.sub.3                          B.10 --O-tert.-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                   B.48 --O--C.sub.2 H.sub.4 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                   B.11 --O-n-C.sub.5 H.sub.11                                                                      B.49 --O--CH(CH.sub.3)--OCH.sub.3                            B.12 --O-n-C.sub.6 H.sub.13                                                                      B.50 --O--CH(CH.sub.3)--OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                     B.13 --O--CH.sub.2 CH═CH.sub.2                                                               B.51 --OCH.sub.2 C═NOCH.sub.3                            B.14 --O--CH(CH.sub.3)CH═CH.sub.2                                                            B.52 --O--C.sub.2 H.sub.4 C═NOCH.sub.3                   B.15 --O--CH--CH═CH--CH.sub.2                                                                B.53 --O--CH.sub.2 C═NOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                   B.16 --O--CH.sub.2 --C.tbd.CH                                                                    B.54 --O--C(O)CH.sub.3                                       B.17 --O--CH(CH.sub.3)--C.tbd.CH                                                                 B.55 --O--C(O)C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                B.18 --O--CH.sub.2 --C.tbd.C--CH.sub.3                                                           B.56 --O--C.sub.2 H.sub.4 C═NOC.sub.2 H.sub.5            B.19 --O-cyclopropyl                                                                             B.57 --SCH.sub.3                                             B.20 --O-cyclobutyl                                                                              B.58 --SC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                      B.21 --O-cyclopentyl                                                                             B.59 --S-n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                   B.22 --O-cyclohexyl                                                                              B.60 --S-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                   B.23 --O--CH.sub.2 --CF.sub.3                                                                    B.61 --S--CH.sub.2 CH═CH.sub.2                           B.24 --O--CH.sub.2 --CCl.sub.3                                                                   B.62 --S--CH.sub.2 C.tbd.CH                                  B.25 --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --Br                                                                  B.63 --S-phenyl                                              B.26 --O-phenyl   B.64 --S--CH.sub.2 CN                                        B.27 --O-(2-F-phenyl)                                                                            B.65 --S--CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3                                 B.28 --O-(2-Cl-phenyl)                                                                           B.66 --CH.sub.3                                              B.29 --O-(2-Br-phenyl)                                                                           B.67 --C.sub.2 H.sub.7                                       B.30 --O-(3-F-phenyl)                                                                            B.68                                                         n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                              B.31 --O-(3-Cl-phenyl)                                                                           B.69                                                         i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                              B.32 --O-(3-Br-phenyl)                                                                           B.70                                                         n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                              B.33 --O-(4-F-phenyl)                                                                            B.71                                                         i-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                              B.34 --O-(4-Cl-phenyl)                                                                           B.72                                                         s-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                              B.35 --O-(4-Br-phenyl)                                                                           B.73                                                         tert.-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                          B.36 --O-(4-OCH.sub.3 -phenyl)                                                                   B.74                                                         n-C.sub.5 H.sub.11                                                             B.37 --O-(4-CN-phenyl)                                                                           B.75                                                         n-C.sub.6 H.sub.13                                                             B.38 --O-(4-COOCH.sub.3 -phenyl)                                                                 B.76 --CH.sub.2 CH═CH.sub.2                              B.77 --CH.sub.2 C.tbd.CH                                                                         B.108                                                                               --NH--CH(CH.sub.3)--CH═CH.sub.2                     B.78 --CH(CH.sub.3)CH═CH.sub.2                                                               B.109                                                                               --NH--CH.sub.2 --C.tbd.CH                               B.79 --CH(CH.sub.3 C.tbd.CH                                                                      B.110                                                                               --NH--CH(CH.sub.3)--C.tbd.CH                            B.80 --CH.sub.2 Cl                                                                               B.111                                                                               --N(CH.sub.3)--CH.sub.2 CH═CH                       B.81 --CH.sub.2 Br                                                                               B.112                                                                               --N(CH.sub.3)--CH.sub.2 C.tbd.CH                        B.82 --CHCl.sub.2 B.113                                                                               --NH-cyclopropyl                                        B.83 --CF.sub.3   B.114                                                                               --NH-cyclobutyl                                         B.84                                                                           Cyclopropyl                                                                         B.115        --NH-cyclopentyl                                             B.85                                                                           Cyclobutyl                                                                          B.116        --NH-cyclohexyl                                              B.86                                                                           Cyclopentyl                                                                         B.117        --N(CH.sub.3)-cyclohexyl                                     B.87                                                                           Cyclohexyl                                                                          B.118        --N(C.sub.2 H.sub.5)-cyclohexyl                              B.88                                                                           Phenyl                                                                              B.119        --NH--COCH.sub.3                                             B.89 2-F-phenyl   B.120                                                                               --NH--COC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                 B.90 3-F-phenyl   B.121                                                                               --NH--COOCH.sub.3                                       B.91 4-F-phenyl   B.122                                                                               --NH--CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3                                B.92 2-Cl-phenyl  B.123                                                                               --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 CCH.sub.3                        B.93 4-Cl-phenyl  B.124                                                                               --N-piperindinyl                                        B.94 2,4-Cl.sub.2 -phenyl                                                                        B.125                                                                               --N-pyrrolidinyl                                        B.95 --CH.sub.2 --OCH.sub.3                                                                      B.126                                                                               --N-morpholin-4-yl                                      B.96 --CH(OCH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       B.127                                                                               --N-piperazinyl                                         B.97 --CH.sub.2 --SCH.sub.3                                                                      B.128                                                                               --NH-phenyl                                             B.98 --NH.sub.2   B.129                                                                               --NH--(2-CH.sub.3 -phenyl)                              B.99 --NHCH.sub.3 B.130                                                                               --NH-(2-F-phenyl)                                       B.100                                                                               --NH-n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                      B.131                                                                               --NH-(4-F-phenyl)                                       B.101                                                                               --NH-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                      B.132                                                                               --NH-(2-Cl-phenyl)                                      B.102                                                                               --NH-n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9                                                                      B.133                                                                               --NH-(4-Cl-phenyl)                                      B.103                                                                               --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                         B.134                                                                               --NH-(2,4-Cl.sub.2 -phenyl)                             B.104                                                                               --N(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                                                                  B.135                                                                               --O--CO--OCH.sub.3                                      B.105                                                                               --N(CH.sub.3)C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                B.136                                                                               --O--CO--OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                               B.106                                                                               --N(n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2                                                                B.137                                                                               --O--CH.sub.2 --COOCH.sub.3                             B.107                                                                               --NH--CH.sub.2 CH═CH.sub.2                                                              B.138                                                                               --O--CH(CH.sub.3)--COOCH.sub.3                          __________________________________________________________________________

The compounds of the formula I can be present in the form of their agriculturally utilizable salts, the nature of the salt in general not being a problem. Customarily the salts of those bases are suitable which do not adversely affect the herbicidal action of I.

Suitable salts are for example alkali metal salts, in particular sodium and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts such as, in particular, calcium, magnesium and barium salts, manganese, copper, zinc or iron salts and also ammonium salts such as tetraalkyl- and benzyltrialkylammonium salts, phosphonium salts, sulfonium salts such as trialkylsulfonium salts or sulfoxonium salts.

The substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I are obtainable by various routes, to be precise preferably by one of the following processes:

a) where X¹ =O, S and X² =O, by cyclizing an N-phenyl-glutaramide of the formula II ##STR6## The reaction is customarily carried out in an inert solvent and in the presence of a dehydrating agent.

The solvents used are inert organic solvents such as hydrocarbons, eg. n-hexane, ligroin or petroleum ether; aromatics, eg. toluene or xylene, halogenated hydrocarbons, eg. dichloromethane, trichloromethane or chlorobenzene; ethers, eg. 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran or dioxane; ketones such as acetone and tert-butyl methyl ketone; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol; nitriles such as acetonitrile; polar organic solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide; organic acids, eg. acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid; water or mixtures of these.

Possible dehydrating reagents are eg. acid halides, eg. acetyl chloride, propionyl chloride, thionyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride or phosphorus pentachloride; anhydrides, such as acetic anhydride, or acids, eg. phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid or sulfuric acid.

The ratio of dehydrating agent/starting material II is not critical. Customarily, from 0.5 to 1.5 equivalents, preferably from 0.7 to 1.2 equivalents, are used. In some cases, however, it may be useful to use the dehydrating agent in a large excess and thus simultaneously as a solvent.

The reaction temperature is between approximately 0° C. and 150° C., preferably between 35° C. and the reflux temperature of the solvent used.

In some cases, it may be advantageous to remove the water formed in the reaction from the reaction by physical means, such as eg. azeotropic distillation, water removal or dehydration by means of molecular sieve, so that in some cases a chemical dehydrating agent can be dispensed with.

Normally the reaction is carried out at atmospheric pressure or under the autogenous pressure of the respective solvent. A higher or lower pressure is possible, but in general offers no advantages.

b) where X¹ =O, S and X² =O, by cyclizing an N-phenyl-glutaramide of the formula II ##STR7## in an inert solvent and in the presence of an acid or a base. Suitable solvents are hydrocarbons, eg. n-hexane, ligroin or petroleum ether; aromatics such as toluene and xylene; halogenated hydrocarbons, eg. dichloromethane, trichloromethane or chlorobenzene; organic nitrogen bases, eg. triethylamine or pyridine; ethers such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; ketones such as acetone and tert-butyl methyl ketone; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol; nitriles such as acetonitrile; polar organic solvents, eg. dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone or dimethyl sulfoxide; organic acids, eg. acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid; water or mixtures of these solvents.

The bases customarily used are organic nitrogen bases, eg. pyridine, triethylamine or 1,4-diazabicyclo 2.2.2!octane; or inorganic bases, eg. sodium hydride, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate; alkali metal alkoxides such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and potassium tert-butoxide.

Suitable acids are eg. organic acids such as p-toluenesulfonic acid and acetic acid, or mineral acids such as sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, it being possible to use the acids at the same time also as solvents or diluents.

The reaction temperature is between 20° C. and 200° C., preferably between 50° C. and the reflux temperature of the solvent used.

The details for method a) apply with respect to the pressure.

c) where X¹ =S and X² =O or S, by reacting a substituted N-phenylglutarimide of the formula I, where X¹ is oxygen, with a suitable sulfurizing reagent ##STR8## As a rule, the reaction is carried out in an inert solvent. Possible solvents are eg. aromatics, such as toluene or xylene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, eg. dichloromethane, chloroform or chlorobenzene; ethers such as dialkyl ethers, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; alcohols such as methanol and ethanol; ketones such as acetone, or water, and also a mixture of these solvents.

Particularly useful sulfurizing reagents are phosphorus (V) sulfide and 2,4-bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-dithiadiphosphetane-2,4-dithione ("Lawesson's Reagent").

The amount of sulfurizing reagent is not critical, normally 1 to 5 times the molar amount is used, based on the N-phenyl-substituted glutarimide to be sulfurized, if it is wished to replace both groups X¹ and X² =O by sulfur. If it is desired to replace only one radical X, then approximately equimolar amounts are advantageously selected.

Normally, the reaction temperature is between 20° C. and 200° C., preferably between 40° C. and the reflux temperature of the solvent used.

If the glutarimide of the formula 1 to be sulfurized has another carbonyl group which is more reactive to the sulfurizing reagent than the imide group, eg. if B is hydrogen or alkyl, then the selectivity of the sulfurizing reaction can be guaranteed by a protective group technique by blocking, for example, the carbonyl group in the side chain A by a customary protective group. Useful protective groups are eg. acetals or other groups which are well-known to the person skilled in the art, such as are described eg. in "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", Th. W. Greene, Wiley & Sons, New York, 1981.

In general, the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I can be prepared by one of the abovementioned synthesis processes. For economical or process engineering reasons, however, it may be more expedient to prepare some compounds I from similar substituted N-phenylglutarimides I which differ, however, in particular in the meaning of the radicals A or B, to be precise in a manner known per se, eg. by ester hydrolysis, esterification, amidation, acetalization, acetal hydrolysis, condensation reaction, Wittig reaction, Peterson olefination, etherification, alkylation, oxidation or reduction.

The substituted N-phenylglutarimides I may be obtained in the processes described above as isomer mixtures. However, the isomers obtained can be separated into the pure isomers, if desired, using the methods customary for this purpose, eg. by crystallization, chromatography (LC, HPLC, etc.), if appropriate on an optically active adsorbate.

The N-phenylglutaramides of the formula II are novel. They are useful intermediate compounds for preparing the final products of the formula I according to the invention. The invention thus also relates to novel glutaramides or glutaric ester amides (formula II), in which the radicals R¹ to R⁸, X¹, X², A and B are defined as under formula I and the radical R⁹ is H, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or benzyl.

The compounds II surprisingly additionally also show herbicidal activity and defoliant/desiccant action.

The N-phenylglutaramides II are obtainable by various routes, to be precise preferably by one of the following processes:

d) by reacting an aniline of the formula III with a glutaric anhydride of the formula IV ##STR9## Suitable solvents for this reaction are eg. ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; hydrocarbons such as hexane, petroleum ether, toluene and xylene; acetonitrile; amides such as dimethylformamide and chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, chloroform and chlorobenzene, as well as mixtures of the solvents mentioned.

The reaction is customarily carried out in a temperature range from -20° to 100° C., preferably 0° to 70° C.

The reaction is expediently carried out at atmospheric pressure or under the autogenous pressure of the particular solvent. A higher or lower pressure is possible, but in general offers no advantages.

e) By reacting an aniline of the formula III with a glutaric acid monoester of the formula V in the presence of a base. ##STR10## Useful solvents for this reaction are eg. hydrocarbons such as hexane, petroleum ether, benzene, toluene and xylene; halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, chloroform, carbon, tetrachloride and chlorobenzene; ethers such as diethyl ether, tert-butyl methyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; ketones such as acetone; nitriles such as acetonitrile; tertiary amines, such as pyridine or N,N-diethylaniline; acid amides such as dimethylformamide and N-methylpyrrolidone; organic sulfur compounds such as dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane; and further water or mixtures of these solvents.

Useful bases are eg. organic nitrogen bases such as pyridine, triethylamine and 1,4-diazabicyclo 2.2.2!-octane, inorganic bases such as sodium hydride, potassium hydride, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate; metal alkoxides such as sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and potassium tert-butoxide.

The ratio of the base to III is customarily from 0.5 to 1.5, preferably from 0.7 to 1.2.

In a preferred embodiment, the acid V is converted before reaction with III into an activated acid derivative for example a halide, preferably chloride, an imidazolide or a mixed anhydride, eg. with ethylcarbonic acid. Suitable reagents for this purpose are eg. thionyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride, phosgene or imidazole or ethyl chloroformate.

In some cases, a condensation reagent, eg. dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, can also be used instead of a base.

The reaction temperature is between -40° and 160° C., preferably -20° and 130° C.

The ratio of the starting compounds III and IV is not critical; preferably approximately equimolar amounts of both starting materials are reacted.

The details for method d) apply with respect to the pressure.

f) By reacting a compound of the formula II, where X¹ is oxygen, with a suitable sulfurizing reagent ##STR11## The reaction conditions, solvent etc. are already described above for I (process c) and can be applied analogously to II.

The details for method d) apply with respect to the pressure.

Another manner of preparation of the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I according to the invention is direct preparation from the aniline III without isolation of the intermediates II.

The starting materials III, IV and V are known or can be prepared by processes known per se, eg. as described in EP-A-391 847, 415 642, 454 444, DE-A-3 941 562, DE-A-40 42 194, EP-A-400 427 or EP-A-415 641.

Among the substituted N-phenylglutarimides, the compounds I' ##STR12## where R^(4') is C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, R^(3') and R^(5') independently of one another are hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, are particularly preferred.

With respect to herbicidal use, very particularly preferred compounds I' are shown in the following table 2. ##STR13##

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         No.           A                                                                ______________________________________                                         Ia1           CH.sub.2 --CHCl--COOCH.sub.3                                     Ia2           CH.sub.2 --CHCl--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                              Ia3           CH.sub.2 --CHBr--COOCH.sub.3                                     Ia4           CH.sub.2 --CHBr--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                              Ia5           CH.sub.2 --CHI--COOCH.sub.3                                      Ia6           CH.sub.2 --CHI--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                               Ia7           CH═CH--COOCH.sub.3                                           Ia8           CH═CH--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                    Ia9           CH═CCl--COOCH.sub.3                                          Ia10          CH═CCl--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                   Ia11          CH═CBr--COOCH.sub.3                                          Ia12          CH═CBr--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                   Ia13          CH═CI--COOCH.sub.3                                           Ia14          CH═CI--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                    Ia15          CH═CF--COOCH.sub.3                                           Ia16          CH═CF--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                    Ia17          CH═C(CN)--COOCH.sub.3                                        Ia18          CH═C(CN)--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                 Ia19          CH═C(COOCH.sub.3).sub.2                                      Ia20          CH═C(COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                               Ia21          CH═C(COOCH.sub.3)--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                        Ia22          CH═C(CH.sub.3)--COOCH.sub.3                                  Ia23          CH═C(CH.sub.3)--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                           Ia24          CH═C(C.sub.2 H.sub.5)--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                    Ia25          CH═C(CF.sub.3)--COOCH.sub.3                                  Ia26          CH═C(CF.sub.3)--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                           Ia27          CH═C(COCH.sub.3)--COOCH.sub.3                                Ia28          CH═C(COCH.sub.3)--COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                         Ia29          CH═CH--CO--CH.sub.3                                          Ia30          CH═CH--CO--CH.sub.2 Cl                                       Ia31          CH═CH--CO--CHCl.sub.2                                        Ia32          CH═CH--CO--CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3                                Ia33          CH═CCl--COCH.sub.3                                           Ia34          CH═CBr--COCH.sub.3                                           Ia35          CH═C(CH.sub.3)--CHO                                          Ia36          CH═C(CH.sub.3)--CO--CH.sub.3                                 Ia37          CH═CH--COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OCH.sub.3                         Ia38          CH═CH--COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                  Ia39          CH═CCl--COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OCH.sub.3                        Ia40          CH═CCl--COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                 Ia41          CH═CBr--COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OCH.sub.3                        Ia42          CH═CBr--COO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                 Ia43          CH═CH--COOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                  Ia44          CH═CCl--COOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                 Ia45          CH═CBr--COOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                 Ia46          CH═CI--COOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                  Ia47          CH═CF--COOCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3                                  Ia48          CH═CH--COO--N═C(CH.sub.3).sub.2                          Ia49          CH═CCl--COO--N═C(CH.sub.3).sub.2                         Ia50          CH═CBr--COO--N═C(CH.sub.3).sub.2                         ______________________________________                                    

In addition, the following substituted N-phenylglutarimides I are particularly preferred.

the compounds Ib1 to Ib50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R² is fluorine; ##STR14## the compounds Ic1 to Ic50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R³ is methyl; ##STR15## the compounds Id1 to Id50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R² is fluorine and R³ is methyl; ##STR16## the compounds Ie1 to Ie50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R⁴ is difluoromethyl; ##STR17## the compounds If1 to If50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R² is fluorine and R⁴ is difluoromethyl; ##STR18## the compounds Ig1 to Ig50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R³ is methyl and R⁴ is difluoromethyl; ##STR19## the compounds Ih1 to Ih50, which differ from the compounds Ia1 to Ia50 in that R² is fluorine, R³ is methyl and R⁴ is difluoromethyl. ##STR20##

The substituted N-phenylglutarimides I or N-phenylglutaramides II according to the invention and their agriculturally utilizable salts are useful as herbicides, in particular for combating dicotyledon weeds and as defoliants/desiccants, in particular for defoliating cotton, and as defoliants for desiccating the above-ground parts of crop plants, for example potato, sunflower, soybean and rape. Completely mechanized harvesting of these important crop plants is thus made possible.

Of economical interest is also facilitation of harvesting, which is made possible by the falling off or decrease, which is concentrated in terms of time, in the firmness of attachment to the tree in the case of citrus fruits, olives or in other Species and types of pomaceous fruit, stone fruit and indehiscent fruit. They additionally lead to a uniform maturation of the harvested fruit.

The same mechanism, i.e. the promotion of the formation of abscission tissue between the fruit or leaf and shoot part of the plant is also essential for a well-controllable defoliation of crop plants such as, in particular, cotton. The shortening of the time interval within which the individual cotton plants become ripe additionally leads to an increased fiber quality after harvesting.

The compounds I and II or the herbicidal agents or desiccants/defoliants containing them can be used, for example, in the form of directly sprayable aqueous solutions, powders, suspensions, also high-percentage aqueous, oily or other suspensions or dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, broadcasting agents or granules by spraying, nebulizing, atomizing, broadcasting or watering. The application forms depend on the intended applications; they should in each case ensure as fine a dispersion of the active compounds as possible.

The compounds I and II are generally useful for preparing directly sprayable solutions, emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions. Suitable inert additives are mineral oil fractions of average to high boiling point, such as kerosine or diesel oil, and also coal tar oils and oils of vegetable or animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, eg. toluene, xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or their derivatives, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, chlorobenzene, isophorone or strongly polar solvents, such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone or water.

Aqueous application forms can be prepared from emulsion concentrates, dispersions, pastes, wettable powders or water-dispersible granules by addition of water. To prepare emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions, the substrates can be homogenized in water, as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent, by means of wetting agents, adherents, dispersants or emulsifiers. However, concentrates consisting of active substance, wetting agent, adherents, dispersant or emulsifier and optionally solvent or oil can also be prepared, which are suitable for dilution with water.

Suitable surface-active substances are the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, for example ligno-, phenol-, naphthalene- and dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, and of fatty acids, alkyl- and alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl, lauryl ether and fatty alcohol sulfates, and salts of sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanols, and of fatty alcohol glycol ethers, condensation products of sulfonated naphthalene and its derivatives with formaldehyde, condensation products of naphthalene or of naphthalenesulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ethers, ethoxylated isooctyl-, octyl- or nonylphenol, alkylphenol- and tributylphenyl polyglycol ethers, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, isotridecyl alcohol, fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers or polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetate, sorbitol esters, lignin-sulfite waste liquors or methylcellulose.

Powders, broadcasting agents and dusts can be prepared by mixing or mutual grinding of the active substances with a solid carrier.

Granules, for example coated, impregnated and homogeneous granules can be prepared by binding of the active compounds to solid carriers. Solid carriers are mineral earths such as silica gel, silicic acids, silicates, talc, kaolin, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground plastics, fertilizers, such as ammonium sulfate, Ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas and vegetable products, such as cereal meal, tree bark, wood and nut shell meal, cellulose powder or other solid carriers.

The formulations in general contain between 0.01 and 95% by weight, preferably between 0.5 and 90% by weight, of active ingredient. The active ingredients are employed here in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably from 95% to 100% (by NMR spectrum).

Examples of such preparations are:

I. a mixture of 20 parts by weight of the compound No. 1.2, 80 parts by weight of xylene, 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 8 to 10 mol of ethylene oxide to 1 mol of oleic acid N-monoethanolamide, 5 parts by weight of calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, and 5 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 mol of ethylene oxide to i mol of castor oil. By finely dispersing the mixture in 100,000 parts by weight of water, an aqueous dispersion which contains 0.02% by weight of the active ingredient is obtained.

II. a dispersion of 20 parts by weight of the compound No. 1.2 in a mixture of 40 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, 30 parts by weight of isobutanol, 20 parts by weight of the adduct of 7 mol of ethylene oxide to I mol of isooctylphenol and 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 mol of ethylene oxide to i mol of castor oil. The mixture of this dispersion with 100,000 parts by weight of water contains 0.02% by weight of the active ingredient.

III. a dispersion of 20 parts by weight of the compound No. 1.5 in a mixture of 25 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, 65 parts by weight of a mineral oil fraction of boiling point 210° to 280° C. and 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 mol of ethylene oxide to 1 mol of castor oil. The mixture of this dispersion with 100,000 parts by weight of water contains 0.02% of the active ingredient.

IV. a mixture, ground in a hammer mill, of 20 parts by weight of the compound No. 1.1, 3 parts by weight of the sodium salt of diisobutylnaphthalene-α-sulfonic acid, 17 parts by weight of the sodium salt of a lignosulfonic acid from a sulfite waste liquor and 60 parts by weight of powdered silica gel. By finely dispersing the mixture in 20,000 parts by weight of water, a spray liquor is obtained which contains 0.1% by weight of the active ingredient.

V. a mixture of 3 parts by weight of the compound No. 1.2 and 97 parts by weight of finely divided kaolin. This dust contains 3% by weight of active ingredient.

VI. a stable oily dispersion of 20 parts by weight of the compound No. 1.4, 2 parts by weight of the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 8 parts by weight of fatty alcohol polyglycol ether, 2 parts by weight of the sodium salt of a phenolsulfonic acid urea/formaldehyde condensate and 68 parts by weight of a paraffinic mineral oil.

The application of the herbicidal compositions or of the active ingredients can be carried out pre-emergence or post-emergence. If the active compounds are less tolerable to certain crop plants, application techniques can be used in which the herbicidal compositions are sprayed with the aid of spray equipment such that the leaves of the sensitive crop plants are affected as little as possible, while the active ingredients reach the leaves of undesired plants growing under them or the uncovered soil surface (post-directed, lay-by).

The application amounts of active ingredient are, depending on the combat target, time of year, target plants and growth stage 0.001 to 3.0, preferably 0.01 to 1 kg/ha of active substance (a.s.).

In view of the versatility of the application methods, the compounds I and II or compositions containing them can also be employed in a further number of crop plants for the elimination of undesired plants. Suitable crops are, for example, the following (botanical names):

Allium cepa, Ananas comosus, Arachis hypogaea, Asparagus officinalis, Beta vulgaris spp. altissima, Beta vulgaris spp. rapa, Brassica napus var. napus, Brassica napus var. napobrassica, Brassica rapa var. silvestris, Camellia sinensis, Carthamus tinctorius, Carya illinoinensis, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Coffea arabica (Coffea canephora, Coffea liberica), Cucumis sativus, Cymodon dactylon, Daucus carota, Elaeis guineensis, Fragaria vesca, Glycine max, Gossypium hirsutum (Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium herbaceum, Gossypium vitifolium), Helianthus annuus, Hevea brasiliensis, Hordeum vulgare, Humulus lupulus, Ipomoea batatas, Juglans regia, Lens culinaris, Linum usitatis-simum, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, Malus spp., Manihot esculenta, Medicago sativa, Musa spp., Nicotiana tabacum (N. rustica), Otea europaea Oryza sativa, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Picea abies, Pinus spp., Pisum sativum, Prunus avium, Prunus persica, Pyrus communis, Ribes sylvestre, Ricinus communis, Saccharum officinarum, Secale cereale, Solanum tuberosum, Sorghum bicolor (S. vulgare), Theobroma cacao, Trifolium pratense, Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum, Vicia faba, Vitis vinifera, Zea mays.

To broaden the spectrum of action and to achieve synergistic effects, the compounds I and II can be applied mixed and together with numerous representatives of other herbicidal or growth-regulating active compound groups. Suitable examples of mixture components are diazines, 4H-3,1-benzoxazine derivatives, benzothiadiazinones, 2,6-dinitroanilines, N-phenylcarbamates, thiocarbamates, halocarboxylic acids, triazines, amides, ureas, diphenyl ethers, triazinones, uracils, benzofuran derivatives, cyclohexane-1,3-dione derivatives which carry in the 2-position eg. a carboxyl or carboximino group, quinolinecarboxylic acid derivatives, imidazolinones, sulfonamides, sulfonylureas, aryloxy- and heteroaryloxyphenoxypropionic acids and their salts, esters and amides and others.

It may additionally be of use to jointly apply the compounds I and .II, oh their own or in combination with other herbicides, also mixed with other plant protection agents, for example with agents for combating pests or phytopathogenic fungi or bacteria. Also of interest is the miscibility with mineral salt solutions, which are employed for eliminating nutritional and trace element deficiencies. However, non-phytotoxic oils and oil concentrates can also be added.

Preparation examples

EXAMPLE 1

N- 4-Chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonyletheny1)phenyl!-3-methylglutaric acid monoamide (compound 2.1)

5.2 g of 4-chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonyl-ethenyl)aniline in 30 ml of dichloromethane were added dropwise at 25° C. to a solution of 2.56 g of 3-methylglutaric anhydride in 50 ml of dichloromethane. After 3 h, the deposited precipitate was removed and washed with dichloromethane. Yield: 5 g; m.p.: 137°-138° C.

EXAMPLE 2

N- 4-Chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonylethenyl)phenyl!-3-methylglutaric acid imide (compound 1.1)

A solution of 2.8 g of N- 4-chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonylethenyl)phenyl!-3-methylglutaric acid monoamide and 0.1 g of sodium acetate in 50 ml of acetic anhydride was stirred at 95° C. for 2 h. The solvent was then removed. After dissolving the residue in 150 ml of dichloromethane, it was washed with sodium hydrogen-carbonate solution, water and sodium chloride solution, dried and concentrated in vacuo. The residue which remained was crystallized using petroleum ether, and the crystals were removed and dried. Yield: 2.1 g; m.p.: 82°-84° C.

EXAMPLE 3

1- 4-Chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonyletheny1)phenyl!-3-trifluoromethyl-6-thiono-(2H)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrid-2-one (Compound 1.7)

1.6 g of Lawesson's reagent^(*)) were added to a solution of 2.1 g of N- 4-chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxy-carbonylethenyl)phenyl!-3-trifluoromethylglutarimide in 100 ml of toluene. The mixture was heated to reflux temperature for 4 hours and then treated with a further 0.8 g of Lawesson's reagent^(*)). After stirring at reflux temperature for 3 hours the solvent was distilled off. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel (eluent: toluene). Yield: 0.6 g of oil.

EXAMPLE 4

Ethyl N- 4-chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonyletheny1)-phenyl!-3-trifluoromethylglutaramidate

0.13 g (34 mmol) of sodium borohydride was added in portions at room temperature to a solution of 4.2 g (10 mmol) of N- 4-chloro-3-(2-chloro-2-ethoxycarbonylethenyl)phenyl!-3-trifluoromethylglutarimide in 100 ml of ethanol. After stirring for 3 hours the reaction mixture was added to 100 ml of water, after which the aqueous phase was extracted twice with dichloromethane. The combined org. phases were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Finally, the residue was purified by triturating with petroleum ether. Yield: 2 g (42%); m.p.: 115°-117° C.

The active ingredients shown in tables 3 and 4 below were obtained in an analogous manner.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     N-Phenylglutarimides of the formula I (R.sup.1 = Cl; X.sup.2 = O)               ##STR21##                                                                     No.                                                                               X.sup.1                                                                          R.sup.2                                                                          R.sup.3                                                                              R.sup.4                                                                             R.sup.5                                                                          A            M.p.  °C.!                             __________________________________________________________________________     1.01                                                                              O H 3-CH.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     82-84                                         1.02                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     128-130                                       1.03                                                                              O H H     H    H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     165-166                                       1.04                                                                              O H 3-CH.sub.3                                                                           3-CH.sub.3                                                                          H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     73-75                                         1.05                                                                              O H 2-CH.sub.3                                                                           2-CH.sub.3                                                                          H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     oil                                           1.06                                                                              O F 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     101-103                                       1.07                                                                              S H 3-CF{hd 3                                                                            H    H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     oil                                           1.08                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           2-CH.sub.3                                                                          H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     123-125                                       1.09                                                                              O H 3-OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                   H    H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     oil                                           1.10                                                                              O H OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 S                                                                      H CHCClCOOC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     134                                           1.11                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHC(CH.sub.3)COOCH.sub.3                                                                    130-31                                        1.12                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHC(CN)COOCH.sub.3                                         1.13                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCBrCOOCH.sub.3                                           1.14                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCHCOOCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                  1.15                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCHCON(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                    1.16                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCClCOCH.sub.3                                            1.17                                                                              O H 3-CF.sub.3                                                                           H    H CHCHCOCH.sub.2 Cl                                          __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         N-Phenylgluatric acid monoamides of the formula II (where                      X.sup.1 = O; R.sup.1 = Cl; A = CHCR.sup.8 COOR.sup.9)                           ##STR22##                                                                     No.  R.sup.2                                                                              R.sup.3  R.sup.4                                                                              R.sup.5                                                                            R.sup.8                                                                             R.sup.9                                                                             R.sup.12                                                                             M.p.  °C.!                ______________________________________                                         2.01 H     3-CH.sub.3                                                                              H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     137-138                          2.02 H     3-CH.sub.3                                                                              H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     169-170                          2.03 H     H        H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     116-117                          2.04 H     3-CH.sub.3                                                                              3-CH.sub.3                                                                           H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H      98-100                          2.05 H     2-CH.sub.3                                                                              2-CH.sub.3                                                                           H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     130-131                          2.06 H     3-CF.sub.3                                                                              H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                    76-78                            2.07 F     3-CF.sub.3                                                                              H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     143-145                          2.08 H     3-CF.sub.3                                                                              H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                      115-117                          2.09 H     3-CF.sub.3                                                                              2-CH.sub.3                                                                           H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     168-170                          2.10 H     3-OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                      H     H   Cl   C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                     H     77                               2.11 H     3-CF.sub.3                                                                              H     H   CH.sub.3                                                                            CH.sub.3                                                                            H     138-140                          ______________________________________                                    

Use examples

The herbicidal action of the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I and N-phenylglutaramides II could be shown by greenhouse experiments:

The crop containers used were plastic flower pots containing loamy sand with about 3.0% by weight of humus as substrate. The seeds of the test plants were sown separately according to species.

In the case of pre-emergence treatment, the active ingredients suspended or eanulsified in water were applied directly after sowing by means of finely distributing nozzles. The containers were lightly watered in order to promote germination and growth and then covered with transparent plastic hoods until the plants had taken root. This covering caused a more uniform germination of the test plants if this was not affected by the active compounds. The application rate for the pre-emergence application was 0.125 or 0.25 kg/ha of a.s. (active substance).

For the purposes of post-emergence treatment, the test plants were each grown, according to growth form, up to a growth height of from 3 to 15 cm and only then treated with the active compounds suspended or emulsified in water. The test plants had either already been sown and raised in the test containers in which they were treated, or they were grown separately as seedlings and transplanted into the test containers some days before treatment with the active ingredient preparations.

The application rate for post-emergence treatment was 0.125 or 0.25 kg/ha of a.s. (active substance).

Depending on species, the plants were kept at temperatures of from 10° to 25° C. or from 20° to 35° C. The test period extended over 2 to 4 weeks. During this time, the plants were tended and their reaction to the individual treatments was assessed.

Assessment was carried out on a scale of from 0 to 100. Here 100 means no emergence of the plants or complete destruction of at least the above-ground parts and 0 no damage or normal course of growth.

The greenhouse tests were carried out on Amaran thusretroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti, Chenopodium album, Matricaria inodora and Veronica subspecies.

The result showed that using compound No. 1.2 undesired weeds can be combated very effectively both post-emergence and pre-emergence. 

We claim:
 1. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I ##STR23## where the variables have the following meanings: X¹, X² are oxygen or sulfur; R¹ is halogen, nitro, cyano or trifluoromethyl; R² is hydrogen or halogen; R³ , R⁴ , R⁵ independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, C₂ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₂ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkoxy, C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkylthio, C₁ -C₆ -cyanoalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl or benzyl, where the phenyl group or the phenyl ring of the benzyl group may be substituted by C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, halogen, cyano, nitro or trifluoromethyl, or two substituents of a carbon atom of the glutarimide ring are bonded to one another via a 2- to 5-membered chain and thus form a spiro ring, which, if desired, can carry one or two halogen atoms, the spiro ring in addition to the C atoms also being able to contain one or two non-adjacent ring members selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S--, --NH-- and --N(C₁ -C₄ -alkyl)--, or two substituents of two adjacent carbon atoms of the glutarimide ring are bonded to one another via a 1- to 5-membered chain and thus form a fused ring, which, if desired, can carry one or two halogen atoms, the fused ring in addition to the C atoms also being able to contain one or two non-adjacent ring members selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S--, --NH-- and --N(C₁ -C₄ -alkyl)--;is CHR⁶ --CHR⁷ --CO--B or CR⁶ ═CR⁸ --CO--B, where R⁶ is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl; R⁷ is halogen, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyloxy, and R⁸ is hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, hydroxyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy, C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl or C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyloxyand where B has one of the following meanings: (a) is hydrogen, (b) is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -dialkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl; (c) is OR⁹, SR⁹, where R⁹ is: hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, halo-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -cyanoalkyl, C₃ -C₆ -haloalkenyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkylthio-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkylimino or C₁ -C₆ -alkyloximino-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl radicals, benzyl or benzyl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl radicals; (d) is NR¹⁰ R¹¹, where R¹⁰ and R¹¹ independently of one another have the following meanings: hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkynyl, C₃ -C₇ -cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkylcarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy-C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, phenyl, phenyl substituted by one to three C₁ -C₆ -alkyl, C₃ -C₆ -alkenyl, halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁ -C₆ -alkoxy or C₁ -C₆ -alkoxycarbonyl radicals, or R¹⁰ and R¹¹, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, are a saturated or unsaturated 4- to 7- membered heterocycle having one or two further identical or different heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;and the agriculturally utilizable salts of the substituted N-phenylglutarimides I.
 2. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I as defined in claim 1, in which R⁴ is C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl and R³ and R⁵ are hydrogen or C₁ -C₄ -alkyl.
 3. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I' ##STR24## where R^(4') is C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl, R^(3') and R^(5') independently of one another are hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or C₁ -C₆ -haloalkyl and A, X¹ and X² are as defined in claim
 1. 4. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I' as defined in claim 3, where R⁴ is trichloromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl or difluorochloromethyl.
 5. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I as defined in claim 1, where R¹ is halogen.
 6. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I as defined in claim 1, where R² is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine.
 7. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I as defined in claim 1, where A is CHR⁶ --CHR⁷ --CO--B.
 8. Substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I as defined in claim 1, where A is CR⁶ ═CR⁸ --CO--B.
 9. N-Phenylglutaramides of the formula II ##STR25## where X¹, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and A have the meanings mentioned in claim 1 and R¹² is hydrogen, C₁ -C₆ -alkyl or benzyl, and the agriculturally utilizable salts of the N-phenylglutaramides II.
 10. A herbicidal composition or composition for the desiccation and/or defoliation of plants, containing an inert liquid or solid carrier and an amount of at least one substituted N-phenylglutarimide of the formula I or an agriculturally utilizable salt of I as defined in claim 1, which is herbicidally active or has desiccant and/or defoliant activity.
 11. A method for combating undesired plant growth, which comprises allowing an amount of at least one substituted N-phenylglutarimide of the formula I or an agriculturally utilizable salt of I as defined in claim 1 which is herbicidally active to act on plants, their environment or on seeds.
 12. A method for desiccation and/or defoliation of plants, which comprises allowing an amount of at least one substituted N-phenylglutarimide of the formula I or an agriculturally utilizable salt of I as defined in claim 1 which has desiccant and/or defoliant activity to act on plants.
 13. A process for preparing substituted N-phenylglutarimides of the formula I as defined in claim 1(a) in formula I where X¹ =oxygen or sulfur and X² =oxygen, which comprises cyclizing an N-phenylglutaramide of the formula II ##STR26## where X¹, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and A have the meanings mentioned in claim 1, and where R¹² is hydrogen, in the presence of a dehydrating agent; b) in formula I where X¹ =oxygen or sulfur and X² =oxygen, which comprises cyclizing an N-phenylglutaric amide of the formula II ##STR27## where X¹, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and A have the meanings mentioned in claim 1, and where R¹² is not hydrogen; c) in formula I where X¹ =sulfur and X² =oxygen or sulfur, which comprises reacting an N-phenylglutarimide of the formula I, where X¹ is oxygen, ##STR28## with a suitable sulfurizing reagent. 